Becoming a GCCF Judge is a rewarding journey built on hands-on experience, mentorship, and a passion for pedigree cats. To support aspiring judges and help demystify the process, we’ve created a visual roadmap that lays out every stage clearly — from stewarding your first show to applying for Full Judge status.
This pathway reflects the step-by-step training structure approved by Council and is overseen by the relevant Judge Progression Groups (JPGs). The new training system is based on automatic progression through each stage as long as the required criteria are met — with only the final promotion to Full Judge subject to a formal JPG vote.
What the Roadmap Shows
The roadmap outlines four distinct stages:
Stage 1 – GCCF Steward
Your first step — gain stewarding experience and show knowledge as a foundation for judge training.
Stage 2a – Student Judge – Multibreed Pathway
Your second step — for those training to judge multiple breeds, this stage introduces tutorials, critiques and show exposure.
Stage 2b- Speciality (Single) Breed Judge (Provisional)- Single Breed Pathway
Alternative second step — a focused route for candidates wishing to judge a single breed, with the option to continue later if desired.
Stage 3 – Junior Judge
Your third step — the phase where candidates judge kitten breed classes and build expertise through presentations, assessments, and critiques — developing the high-level skills expected of a Full Judge across multiple breeds.
Stage 4 – Full Judge
Your fourth step — once all criteria have been met, candidates may apply to become Full Judges, with the final decision confirmed by JPG vote.
View the Roadmap
You can view the GCCF Judge Training Roadmap below as an image, or download it for reference.
Want to Get Involved?
Whether you’re a seasoned exhibitor, an experienced breeder, or a passionate steward, the GCCF Judge Training Pathway is open to you. If you’d like to know more about how to get started, visit our step-by-step guide on how to become a GCCF Judge.
